Autumn Richard
Paper 2
English 2027-01
April 11, 2014
Another Side of Circe
We are never truly ourselves around people until we sincerely know them; and even then we sometimes pretend to be something we are not. How many times have you been upset, or hurt, or furious by someone’s actions and instead of talking about the actual problem you say you are fine and scream at them for something else you do not like about them? In Circe’s Power this is exactly what we see; Circe is hurt when Odysseus leaves but she does not want him to know this. Circe’s Power is written by Louise Gluck; Gluck’s poem shows a completely different side of Circe, or perhaps many sides. When the lyric poem begins we see Circe, the speaker of the poem, trying to stand up for her actions by saying she is a good person. Next her demeanor changes and we see her angry until yet again her attitude changes and becomes softer, and sad. Lastly, Circe ends by being her “true” self, cold and powerful.
As the Odyssey reveals, Circe is a powerful sorceress; but people also see her as a temptress. In stanza one however, Circe sets the record straight by explaining that she did not turn anyone into pigs, but simply makes the men into pigs. Circe continues her defense by clarifying that she did not transform anyone into pigs that were not ones already. She was simply showing the true colors of the men, what lied within. Moving on to stanza two, Circe goes from playing defense to offense. She expresses her disgust for Odysseus’s world, explaining how everyone hides from what they really are. Instead of being truthful, everyone pretends to be something they are not and no one will call anyone out on it.
In stanzas one and two we can hear the tone of frustration and anger in ...
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...g happy together? Women who have no feelings for a man, would never bother trying to convince a man to stay. Adding on to that statement, women who are not madly in love with a man would not seem so crazy and flip flop their emotions like Circe does in the poem. Circe cares for Odysseus, and because of that she lets him go instead of keeping him prisoner. If letting go of him and lying about her true feelings will make him happy then it is what must be done; this is proof of her love.
The last theme of Circe’s Power is lies vs. truth. People have always known Circe as the mean sorceress who turned the men into pigs, but she defends herself by saying they were already pigs on the inside. Not only that, but Circe tells how everyone lies all the time. People do not want to show their true selves and that a lot of them love the lies they tell more than the actual truth.
This myth is about the great Odysseus on his return from the Trojan War. On his way home, he washed up onto the isle of Circe, a great and powerful magician, famous for turning unwanted guests into animals. His men went first and only one came back, he told Odysseus that all the men had been turned into animals. Odysseus goes to confront Circe and ends up being invited to a banquet. In the end, Odysseus managed to bribe Circe to turn his men back and to let him leave the island. The first thing I noticed when looking at this painting is the architecture and how much of the canvas it takes up. This represents the power and strength of Circe. On the bottom right and left corners, you can see beautiful women on one side, and men turning into animals on the other. The beautiful women were used to lure them men and are separated from them in the painting. In the back you can see the messenger, Hermes, who gave Odysseus a plant to void all of the magic. Pannini also used directional lines and the geometric shape of the architecture to direct the eye into the arch where Odysseus and Circe were
It is Circe who tells Odysseus of the trip which he and his men must
In appeasing Calypso when she becomes angered by Odysseus’ willingness to leave, he defends Penelope (his wife) in a meaningful way, but declares that, “Nevertheless I long – I pine, all my days – /to travel home and see the dawn of my return.” Nowhere in that statement does he state that he misses his wife or only son, simply that he misses his home, Ithaca (Homer 159). Another instance of Odysseus disloyalty to his family is in his time with Circe. When he approaches her and she wants to sleep with him, he first requires her to swear an oath to not harm or plot against him and his men, after which he describes, “…and when she’d finished/ then, at last, I mounted Circe’s gorgeous bed…” The key phrase here is “at last”. This displays Odysseus’ eagerness to sleep with a woman that is not his chosen bride (Homer 240-41, Lns. 373-86). A final instance of Odysseus’ devotion gone wrong is also with Circe. Odysseus dallies with on her island for a year, at which point his men decide it is time to leave and they urge their captain on (Homer 245). Note how, even if it was somewhat expected of men at that time, Odysseus seems far too willing to perform sexual intercourse with women who are not his wife. These instances of Odysseus’ misplaced devotion illustrate how he could not maintain his concentration on what mattered to the highest degree, for as he himself put it, “No finer, greater gift in the world than that… / when a man and a woman possess their home, two minds, / two hearts work as one. Despair to their enemies, / a joy to all their friends. Their own best claim to glory.” (Homer
In recounting the prophecy to the Phaecians, Odysseus reveals through his emphasis on her separating him from his shipmates that she intended for him alone to hear her advice: “But Circe, taking me by the hand, drew me away / from all my shipmates there and sat me down” (Homer 12.36-7). The enjambment in line 36 leaves unanswered the question of from what Circe drew Odysseus away, which creates anticipatory tension that stresses the following line in which Odysseus reveals that she separated him from his crew. By highlighting Odysseus’ separation from his crew just before he receives Circe’s prophecy not to arm himself to fight Scylla, the text underscores that Odysseus alone is responsible for accepting and executing this prophecy. Therefore, Odysseus is also fully responsible for the consequences of failing to bring Circe’s prophecy to pass, which Circe predicts would be his men’s
6. Should individuals and organizations with access to the databases be identified to the patient
3. Do you think Franklin should have shared her information more freely with the others? Why or why not?
...tested Odysseus to make sure it was him for she “feared some man might come and cheat [her] with his tale” (Homer, 226) showing how truly loyal she is to Odysseus. Although Odysseus was unfaithful there is no consequence for his actions for he is a man but for those women who were unfaithful it could be see how they are punished by men. In the case of Odysseus’ maids they were “unworthy” for they laid with the suitors and as punishment Telemachus says that “By no honorable death [their lives will be taken]” (Homer, 220). The difference in expectations between men and women when it comes to loyalty promotes gender inequality which makes the views The Odyssey has on society rather misogynistic.
Again Odysseus shows a lack of self discipline while with the witch Circe. Odysseus chooses to stay with Circe instead of trying to make it back to his wife, Penelope, and his kingdom of Ithaca. In the Odyssey it says "he enjoyed the many pleasures of Circe." (Page 913). This proves that Odysseus, once again has no control over himself when he is tempted. He choose the beautiful witch over his very own wife who has been waiting for years for him to return.
In the third stanza, the language becomes much darker, words like: anger, explode, and against make this stanza seem even more warlike than the first stanza.
In The Odyssey women are unequal, treated differently, and are considered inferior to men. Throughout the epic women are not given an appropriate amount of respect by men. The male characters of The Odyssey expect certain traits and characteristics of women that they do not expect of themselves. Men expect that the women in The Odyssey be loyal to them, and not be adulterous or seductive. When Odysseus returns to Ithaca in disguise, he expects Penelope to be faithful and loyal to him. It is doubtful that Odysseus would have stayed with Penelope if he had found her to be unfaithful and adulterous when he was gone. This was while Odysseus had slept with Circe and stayed with her on her island for one year and then slept with Calypso numerous times on the island of Ogygia. What makes this even worse is that Penelope would have had justification to be unfaithful to Odysseus and remarry. As far as Penelope, and almost everyone else on Ithaca, was concerned Odysseus was dead. Penelope had a strong need for a husband, a companion, a strong man to rule Ithaca in Odysseus' place, and a male presence to help ra...
Throughout the ten years of The Odyssey, Odysseus was determined to come home to his wife and son in Ithaca. During this journey he met two beautiful women, Calypso and Circe. Odysseus was forced to stay with Calypso, and was seduced by Circe. Both the nymph and sorceress were depicted as beautiful in Homer’s The Odyssey. However Odysseus chose to stay with his wife and take the difficult journey back to Ithaca. This illustrated his devotion for Penelope. Another primary evidence that supports how he loved his wife was that Calypso offered him immortality in exchange for his company. Odysseus chose to live a mortal life with a mere human over an eternal life with a beautiful nymph. Although Odysseus had an affair with Calypso, it can be understood that he was forced to do so, as the nymph would not allow his leave. Even during the seven years in Ogygia, Odysseus relentlessly searched for a way to escape in order to be reunited with his wife. Penelope also proved her faith to Odysseus, as she delayed her suitors advances back in Ithaca. The characteristic which makes Odysseus the most respectful and loving hero is his loyalty to his wife Penelope. His love for his human wife transcends the temptations of an alluring sorceress and a beautiful
The image of seductresses is a recurring motif in The Odyssey. These women are a temptation to Odysseus. They attempt to keep Odysseus from accomplishing his goal: his homecoming. Circe is a bewitching goddess. She entices Odysseus’ crew into her palace with her enchanting voice. However, after she feeds them, she promptly turns them into pigs. Circe also succeeds in enticing Odysseus; he stays with her one year as her lover. It is so long that his crew declares that it is “madness” (326). They say that it is “high time” that Odysseus thinks of his homeland (326). Later on, Odysseus and his crew encounter the sirens. Knowing the danger they pose, Odysseus has all his men’s ears stopped up with wax. However, Odysseus wishes to hear their song; so he asks his crew to tie him to the mast. The song of the sirens is so sweet and enticing. Their “ravishing voices” almost make Odysseus forget his desire to return home (349). His heart “throbbed” to listen longer; he signals for his men to let him go free. The grea...
A main purpose of women in the poem is to define the characters of Odysseus and Penelope. Women's seductive natures serve as a test of character for Odysseus. His choice to leave the sexual pleasures of Kirke and Calypso is proof of his virtue and desirability as a husband. The same depiction causes the virtuous Penelope to stand out in the large pool of vileness as a desirable wife. The contradictions also have a significant affect on the poem and the reader.
7.What steps should Dr. Lightfoot take to implement his ethical decision and monitor its effect?